Petroleum & Subsurface Geology

Catalog description

This course is to introduce the students to the methods used in petroleum exploration and production, including interpretation of subsurface data used in the oil industry, as well as the environmental and mining industries. Skills learned in this course include petrophysical interpretation of well logs, well log correlation, subsurface contour mapping, and determining what geologic conditions are necessary for the potential accumulation of oil and gas deposits. These methods will be taught, using both computer software and hand interpretation techniques. Other goals of this course include increasing the student’s critical thinking, writing, and oral communication skills through problem sets, class discussions, and a final exploration play report and presentation. Assessment of how well students learned the skills taught in this course will take place through homework grades, two exams, and grades received on their exploration play report and presentation.